SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
Hello, I just noticed this when I when to water these today. 1 cactus is severely messed up at the top with purple areas and sunk in here and there. It's been about 2 weeks since watered. I have several but only a couple are like this. Hopefully it stays that way. I'm sure I'm going to have to cut the top off, I just really want to know Why is this happening to try and prevent it in the future. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions. These are Trichocereus Peruvianus grown from seed.
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Last edited by jheaton on Fri Dec 02, 2022 4:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Elevation: 4900 ft.
Elevation: 4900 ft.
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- Location: Norfolk, UK
Re: SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
Certainly some feat. Don't wait and don't even try to treat the symptoms. Cut off the sick part and cover the wound with some protective agent.
- Steve Johnson
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- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
You have a fungal infection. Good news is that it's in the upper part of the stem. Bad news is that'll go down the meristem, so I agree with Andrzej1972 -- cut ASAP before the situation gets worse. Here's what to do:jheaton wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 11:15 pm Hello, I just noticed this when I when to water these today. 1 cactus is severely messed up at the top with purple areas and sunk in here and there. It's been about 2 weeks since watered. I have several but only a couple are like this. Hopefully it stays that way. I'm sure I'm going to have to cut the top off, I just really want to know Why is this happening to try and prevent it in the future. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions. These are Trichocereus Peruvianus grow from seed.
- Sterilize a sharp knife with alcohol.
- Cut below the infected part. If you see nothing but healthy green tissue, you're safe. But if you see even a tiny spot of discoloration, cut more until you don't see any at all.
- If you need to cut more than once, sterilize the knife with each cut.
- Make sure to cut at an angle so that water won't pool up on the top of the cut.
- Give the exposed surface a liberal dusting of sulfur powder to prevent fungus or mildew from being a problem as the cut forms a callus. Don't even think about watering the plant until the new growing season begins next spring.
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
Thanks for your reply guy's, I really appreciate it!! Is there a concrete reason why this happens?
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Elevation: 4900 ft.
Elevation: 4900 ft.
Re: SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
Cold, humidity, low light...
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4755
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: SICK T. Peruvianus - Purple areas and sunk in flesh. WHY ???
Exactly -- a good argument in favor of not watering T. peruvianus during fall and winter once seedlings safely pass the "tender" stage and become juvenile cacti. IMO this rule should apply to all species of desert cactus, not just peruvianus.
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)